Please Support Pennamma Bhavanam

Dear friend,
Greetings from Pennamma Bhavanam!
Pennamma Bhavanam, as you know, is a space that Dr. M.M. Thomas nurtured through his public witness in church and society. Ever since he left us in 1996, we have been trying in a modest way to keep this space a mother home for liberative faith, politics and praxis. This journey has never been smooth and easy.
The get-together of the friends of Pennamma Bhavanam which met in May 2008 collectively resolved to revitalise the Pennamma Bhavanam so that it will become a space that enables and empowers new generations to see new dreams and become new identities to engage in public witness. We have already initiated new programmes to translate this vision under the leadership of two full-time coordinators. The brochure which is enclosed herewith will give you more clarity about this vision. The interest from the endowment fund is just sufficient for the maintenance of the building. We need another 400,000.00 rupees to meet the programme expenses of the current year.
We have confidence in friends like you who are committed to the endeavour. Therefore, we request you to offer financial support to the centre. We expect you to take the commitment of supporting the centre for the coming three years. The cheques and drafts should show the Tiruvalla Ecumenical Charitable Trust as the payee and be sent to Pennamma Bhavanam. Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
Sd/-
Rev. M.J. Joseph Dr. Varghese George Jomon Cheriyan James
T.M. Satyan Shiju Sam Varughese

Dalit Theology Seminar: Photographs

Rev. Y.T. Vinayaraj

Dr. T.V. Madhu

Smt. Rekha Raj

From left: Smt. Rekha Raj, Rev. Sunny George, Dr. T.V. Madhu and Rev. Y.T. Vinayaraj
Rev. Sunny George, the moderator, introduces the book
The Audience

Programmes in JULY 2008

1. Ecumenical Forum
In the context of the controversy over the new SCERT textbooks, an ecumenical forum was launched to formulate a faith response to the same and so far three meetings were organised to discuss different aspects of the dispute. The forum will publish the papers presented on the issue as a booklet to reach a wider community.
2. Sister Mercy Kuttianil Remembrance Get-together
A get together was organised on 6 July 2008, 2 pm at the Pennamma Bhavanam, to commemorate late Sister Mercy Kuttianil, who was actively involved in the fish workers’ struggles in the 1980s and 90s. The memories of the peoples’ movements in the 1980s and 90s were shared by the participants and the need for collective action in the contemporary political context was affirmed.
3. Public Lecture: Demigods and Spirituality
With the intention of reaching out the wider public in Tiruvalla, we are organising public lectures on regular basis. The first public lecture was a faith response to the issue of demigods and the false spirituality that is rampant today. It was organised on 19 July 2008, 4pm, at the YMCA Hall, Tiruvalla. Bishop Thomas mar Athanasius delivered the lecture and the session was chaired by Rev. M.J. Joseph, the chairperson of the trust. More than sixty people attended the programme.
4. Film Viewers’ Collective
In association with the Literary Club of the Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, a collective of students who are interested in films was launched. The collective will meet on alternative weekends to watch and discuss films. The first meeting of the collective was on Saturday, 26 July 2008, and the Hindi feature film Tare Zameen Par was screened. 18 students are now members of the collective.
5. Pennamma Bhavanam goes Online

We have started a blog (http://www.pennammabhavanam.blogspot.com/) and an online discussion forum (pennammabhavanam@googlegroups.com) to be in constant touch with the global network of friends and well-wishers of Pennamma Bhavanam. We urge all of you to join the discussion forum and to visit the blog.

Photographs

Front View of the Pennamma Bhavanam

Mrs. Pennamma, Dr. MM's Wife